Written Answers Tuesday 23 May 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes are in place to assist new entrants to the agriculture sector.

Ross Finnie: There are no dedicated schemes aimed specifically at assisting new entrants to the agriculture sector. Our priority is the creation of a profitable and sustainable agriculture industry which provides real opportunities for all farmers entering and wishing to remain in farming. New entrants to the agriculture sector can, however, access the generic business support and advice services that are available to any new business start-ups through the enterprise networks.

Autism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder reside in (a) the State Hospital, Carstairs, and (b) mental hospitals in each NHS board area and, of these, how many are aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 18, (iii) 19 to 25, (iv) 26 to 40 and (v) 41 and over.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in the last 12 months to publicise the new legal protection afforded to individuals under the provisions of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive, in association with NHS Health Scotland, has produced an information leaflet for the industry sector to advise them of their responsibility under the act. This will be distributed to all businesses during breast awareness week. Scotland already has an existing infrastructure to support breastfeeding and through a multi-agency effort we continue to work with these groups to publicise the new legal protection afforded to individuals. As part of the consultation on our Infant Feeding Strategy we will monitor the effect of the introduction of breastfeeding legislation, ensuring key recommendations are considered and implemented.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in the last 12 months to promote breastfeeding awareness among the population and to challenge any negative attitudes towards breastfeeding.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive works throughout the year with NHS Health Scotland who support a range of promotional, research and best practice at a national level. In addition during breastfeeding awareness week, there are numerous activities planned across Scotland to raise awareness to the public about breastfeeding and health benefits. The Executive has provided funds towards the cost of these events. An information leaflet about the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act is also being distributed by the Executive to promote awareness amongst employers of their responsibilities towards breastfeeding mothers under the act.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the World Health Organization’s decision to revise paediatric growth charts to represent the growth patterns of breastfed babies more accurately in order to reduce instances in which breastfed babies are inaccurately categorised as being underweight.

Lewis Macdonald: Paediatric growth charts are an important tool for recording changing patterns in a child’s growth. Midwives are responsible for the care of each client and it is an accepted good practice to weigh and measure the baby. Current charts are based on calculations using the growth patterns of babies fed largely on formula milk. Bottle-fed babies put on weight more quickly than those that are breast-fed, meaning breast-fed children could be shown as underweight. The new recommended charts are based on data from breast-fed babies. The Scottish Executive launched the Infant Feeding Strategy for Scotland – A consultation paper in March 2006. As part of this consultation, due to finish on the 30 June, we will look at and review the use of these charts.

Central Heating Programme

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many heating systems installed under the central heating programme have failed following installation, broken down by local authority area and year.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Eaga Partnership has informed Communities Scotland that prior to 2004-05 these records have not been compiled in a reportable format.

  In 2004-05 the number of systems reported as failing was seven and in 2005-06 the number reported was four.

  Information is not held by local authority area.

Dentistry

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile is of those citizens who have no natural teeth and are reliant on denture services.

Lewis Macdonald: Citizens with no remaining natural permanent teeth are now predominantly over 55 years old. It is now rare for any person to lose all of their natural permanent teeth before the age of 55 years in Scotland.

  A combination of improved access to fluoride toothpaste and an improved range of available treatments for dental decay and gum disease have led to a considerable and continued decline in tooth loss in Scotland over the last 30 years.

Dentistry

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what waiting lists exist in respect of the supply of dentures across Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: Information on waiting lists for the supply of dentures is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowances are included in the calculations of gross income in respect of extra commitment payments for dentists.

Lewis Macdonald: The following allowances are included in the calculations of gross income in respect of extra commitment payments for dentists:

  Seniority Payment;

  Vocational Trainer Grant;

  Continuing Professional Development Allowance;

  Remote Area Allowance;

  Recruitment and Retention Allowance;

  Clinical Audit Allowance;

  Maternity Payment;

  Paternity Payment;

  Adoptive Leave Payment;

  Fees for Undertaking Practice Inspections;

  Dental Practice Adviser Allowance;

  NHS Board Lead General Dental Practitioner Allowance;

  NHS Education for Scotland Adviser Remuneration;

  CPD Tutor or Director Remuneration, and

  Regional Dental Officer Remuneration.

  Source: Practitioner Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland.

Emergency Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of motor insurance was for (a) each police force, (b) each fire service, (c) the ambulance service and (d) the prison service in each year since 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on the cost of motor insurance for police forces and the fire and rescue authorities is not held centrally. As an agency of the Scottish Executive Justice Department, the Scottish Prison Service has Crown immunity in respect of insurance of vehicles. Figures for the motor insurance costs of the Scottish Ambulance Service are given in the following table.

  Motor Insurance Costs of the Scottish Ambulance Service, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 Year
 Costs (£)


 2001-02
 508,094


 2002-03
 623,343


 2003-04
 691,641


 2004-05
 784,270


 2005-061
 258,714



  Note: 1. There was a reduction in motor insurance costs for 2005-06 because the Scottish Ambulance Service changed the way it insured its vehicles.

Emergency Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel cost was for (a) each police force, (b) each fire service, (c) the ambulance service and (d) the prison service in each year since 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on the fuel costs for police forces is not held centrally. On the fuel costs of the Fire and Rescue authorities, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25149 on 27 April 2006. Figures for the fuel costs of the Scottish Ambulance Service are given in the following table. Information on the fuel costs of the Scottish Prison Service was given in the answer to questions S2W-19101 on 15 September 2005 and S2W-25140 on 11 May 2006.

  Fuel Costs of the Scottish Ambulance Service, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 Year
 Costs (£)


 2001-02
 3,305,881


 2002-03
 3,371,815


 2003-04
 3,924,648


 2004-05
 4,239,630


 2005-06
 4,993,965



  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Enterprise

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much foreign direct investment there has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by sector, and what information it has on what percentage such investment was of the total foreign direct investment into the (a) United Kingdom and (b) European Union.

Nicol Stephen: 1.The sector by sector figures for inward investment projects into Scotland supported by Scottish Development International and its predecessors are provided in the following tables. These should be set in the context of a very steep decline in global flows of foreign direct investment since 2000 and a shift in Scotland’s strategic focus from 2001 onwards to concentrate on attracting high-quality investment rather than volume alone.

  

 1995-96
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 26
 7,083
 719.30


 Services
 7
 1,266
 13.40


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 14
 1,344
 63.70


 Textiles
 7
 589
 19.10


 Food and Drink
 6
 280
 16.20


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 14
 1,274
 127.20


 Forest Products/Paper
 4
 154
 9.40


 Other Activities
 6
 570
 12.70


 Totals
 84
 12,560
 981.00



  

1996-97
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 17
 5,448
 2,582.00


 Services
 23
 2,654
 41.10


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 22
 3,142
 113.10


 Textiles
 2
 380
 12.10


 Food and Drink
 3
 86
 0.70


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 12
 1,682
 260.00


 Forest Products/Paper
 2
 126
 50.90


 Other Activities
 5
 777
 61.60


 Totals
 86
 14,295
 3,121.50



  

 1997-98
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 17
 2,609
 267.70


 Services
 23
 10,732
 392.90


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 13
 910
 44.10


 Textiles
 7
 932
 19.10


 Food and Drink
 3
 72
 4.30


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 14
 2,179
 217.00


 Forest Products/Paper
 2
 123
 48.30


 Other Activities
 8
 390
 18.20


 Totals
 87
 17,947
 1,011.60



  

 1998-99
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 16
 3,665
 216.10


 Services
 29
 4,641
 73.10


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 11
 1,186
 32.50


 Textiles
 6
 632
 17.10


 Food and Drink
 1
 31
 1.60


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 1,300
 653
 417.40


 Forest Products/Paper
 0
 0
 0.00


 Other Activities
 2
 59
 3.40


 Totals
 78
 10,867
 761.20



  

 1999-2000
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 13
 3,568
 158.59


 Services
 25
 6,163
 88.89


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 19
 1,055
 49.40


 Textiles
 2
 73
 0.35


 Food and Drink
 4
 69
 2.50


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 12
 783
 69.04


 Forest Products/Paper
 0
 0
 0.00


 Other Activities
 16
 2,171
 115.21


 Totals
 91
 13,882
 483.98



  

 2000-01
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 25
 5,587
 1,496.86


 Services
 35
 5,240
 119.38


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 18
 1,023
 29.70


 Textiles
 0
 0
 0.00


 Food and Drink
 4
 447
 7.90


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 11
 1,322
 74.10


 Forest Products/Paper
 4
 661
 33.60


 Other Activities
 5
 66
 1.84


 Totals
 102
 14,346
 1,763.38



  

 2001-02
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 11
 1,182
 42.95


 Services
 26
 3,518
 140.02


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 6
 474
 21.28


 Textiles
 1
 40
 0.65


 Food and Drink
 1
 109
 10.00


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 5
 590
 37.97


 Forest Products/Paper
 2
 95
 2.17


 Other Activities
 7
 378
 16.25


 Totals
 59
 6,386
 271.28



  

 2002-03
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 7
 811
 22.95


 Services
 26
 1,202
 27.73


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 17
 3,189
 111.54


 Textiles
 0
 0
 0.00


 Food and Drink
 2
 82
 26.53


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 3
 447
 0.60


 Forest Products/Paper
 0
 0
 0.00


 Other Activities
 2
 1,419
 16.04


 Totals
 57
 7,150
 205.39



  

 2003-04
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 15
 1,985
 122.33


 Services
 8
 983
 18.33


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 16
 1,870
 57.83


 Textiles
 1
 8
 0.08


 Food and Drink
 2
 78
 4.16


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 5
 203
 25.22


 Forest Products/Paper
 1
 50
 1.60


 Other Activities
 17
 298
 1.96


 Totals
 65
 5,475
 231.50



  

 2004-05
 Planned Projects
 Planned Jobs
Planned Investment (£ Million)


 Electronics
 8
 470
 22.95


 Services
 9
 1,270
 6.22


 Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 3
 219
 4.14


 Textiles
 0
 0
 0.00


 Food and Drink
 1
 64
 1.03


 Chemicals/Plastics/Rubber
 4
 437
 8.17


 Forest Products/Paper
 0
 0
 0.00


 Other Activities
 21
 2,608
 98.30


 Totals
 46
 5,068
 140.80



  2. The figures showing inward investment projects in Scotland as a proportion of inward investment projects in the UK are given in the table:

  

 Year
 Projects (%)
 Jobs (%)


 1995-96
 14
 11


 1996-97
 15
 12


 1997-98
 12
 9


 1998-99
 8
 6


 1999-2000
 9
 10


 2000-01
 8
 11


 2001-02
 7
 13


 2002-03
 7
 10


 2003-04
 9
 7


 2004-05
 6
 8



  Note: These figures are reported to UK Trade and Investment using different criteria to those applied when collating Scotland’s own figures for inward investment projects receiving public sector support.

  3. Figures which compare inward investment attracted to the EU with inward investment attracted to Scotland are not available on a comparable basis.

Environment

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for redundant sewers on private property and what legislation defines such responsibility.

Rhona Brankin: Scottish Water is responsible for sewers which are part of the public sewerage network. The Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 makes provisions relating to sewerage in Scotland - section 16 of the act covers ownership of sewers. Scottish Water maintains records of the public sewerage system and would be happy to field any enquiries if you approach them with details of the location of the particular sewer(s) under question.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consents require to be issued to allow genetically modified plants to be grown in controlled environments.

Rhona Brankin: Yes. The use of genetically modified organisms in controlled environments is covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and subsequent (amendment) Regulations 2002 and (amendment) Regulations 2005.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the arrangement between the Care Commission and BUPA in relation to the secondment of staff.

Lewis Macdonald: Staffing arrangements, including secondments, are an operational matter for the Care Commission, who can be contacted at:

  The Care Commission

  Compass House

  11 Riverside Drive

  Dundee

  DD1 4NY.

  0845 603 0890

  www.carecommission.com.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what protocols are in place to ensure that risk assessments are undertaken prior to restricted patients being moved to less secure accommodation.

Lewis Macdonald: Chapter 8 and Annex C of the Memorandum of Procedure contain guidance on restricted patients transferring between hospitals involving a drop in the level of security. A working version of the Memorandum of Procedure is available on:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/health/mentalhealthdivision.

  Recommendations for transfer to conditions of lesser security are closely scrutinised by Scottish ministers and include the expert advice of both multi-disciplinary teams and the psychiatric adviser to the Health Department. Should Scottish ministers not be satisfied on grounds of risk they will not consent to the transfer proceeding.

  From 1 May 2006, all patients detained at the State Hospital have a right to appeal against being detained in conditions of excessive security. Scottish ministers are a party to restricted patient appeals and may make representations, either in writing or orally, at the tribunal hearing. Any representations made will be founded on risk.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what protocols are in place in respect of restricted patients who are granted unescorted leave.

Lewis Macdonald: Chapter 5 and Annex B2 and B3 of the Memorandum of Procedure set out the guidance in relation to suspension of detention for restricted patients. A working version of the Memorandum of Procedure is available on www.scotland.gov.uk/health/mentalhealthdivision .

  Following the publication of the Mental Welfare Commission Report into the care and treatment of Mr L and Mr M on 22 March guidance was issued on the same day indicating that, with immediate effect, a formal risk assessment and risk management plan must be in place before consideration will be given to unescorted suspension of detention.

  Once suspension of detention has been granted the Responsible Medical Officer (RMO) must submit a report on completed suspension of detention three months after the implementation of suspension of detention. If there are any doubts that the suspension of detention should take place, it must be stopped. The RMO must also inform the department should any change occur which affects the basis on which the Scottish ministers’ consent has been given for suspension of detention. Scottish ministers or the RMO may revoke suspension of detention at any time if necessary.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what community assessment is undertaken prior to a restricted patient being moved to less secure accommodation.

Lewis Macdonald: Chapter 8 and Annex C of the Memorandum of Procedure contain guidance on restricted patients transferring between hospitals involving a drop in the level of security. A working version of the Memorandum of Procedure is available on:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/health/mentalhealthdivision.

  Once a receiving hospital and Responsible Medical Officer have been identified, a full case conference involving both multidisciplinary teams (including relevant social work staff) will be arranged. A community assessment will normally be carried out prior to a restricted patient moving out of hospital into the community on a conditional discharge.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any initiatives which will enable improvements in the health care of older people to be developed, disseminated and monitored.

Lewis Macdonald: The Kerr Report Building a Health Service Fit for the Future (Bib. number 36608), in volume 2, has an important chapter dealing with the health care of older people, and how this should be developed. We have just published the Range and Capacity Review Group’s Report The Future Care of Older People in Scotland (Bib. number 39640) which provides wide-ranging advice and information on the health care and community care of older people. We have commissioned a Nurse Consultant post for older people in the care home sector, whose task is to improve the care of older people living in the care home sector. Today I launched the National Training Framework for Care Management and the Management of Long-Term Conditions.

  In addition much activity of this kind takes place through NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Education Scotland.

Hearing Aids

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prescribed hearing aids, also broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is currently not held centrally. However, as part of the Audiology Modernisation Project, the Executive has asked the Information Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland to establish a national data collection programme which will provide comprehensive audiology data in future, though not retrospectively. This work has commenced and, once the data has been validated, it will be published in due course. Data is being collected from January 2006 onwards and will be presented by NHS board and by adult and paediatric activity.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences involving the (a) use, (b) presentation or (c) possession of imitation firearms there were in the city of Edinburgh in each year since 2001.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Crimes and Offences Involving Imitation Firearms, City of Edinburgh 2001-04

  

 Year
 Fired - Injury
 Fired – No Injury/Damage
 Used to Threaten
 Other Use
 Total


 2001
 0
 1
 2
 1
 4


 2002
 0
 0
 2
 0
 2


 2003
 1
 0
 8
 0
 9


 2004
 0
 2
 6
 2
 10



  Note: "Other Use" includes crimes and offences related to possession of a firearm.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25267 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, how many covert surveillance operations involving the interception of MSPs’ communications it has authorised since 1999 and, of these, what percentage resulted in any formal, non-covert action by police.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25267 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, how many covert surveillance operations involving the interception of MSPs’ communications it has refused to authorise since 1999.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25272 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, whether it considers that it is in the public interest to determine whether MSPs are, or have been, under covert surveillance involving interception of communications authorised by Scottish ministers and what impact such action would have on the Scottish democratic process.

Cathy Jamieson: Details of the number of interception warrants issued by the Scottish ministers are contained in the annual reports of the Interception of Communications Commissioner. The most recent report – Bib. number 37809, document number SE/2005/203 – was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 3 November 2005.

  It is not in the public interest to give details relating to interception warrants beyond the figures reported by the commissioner. To do so could potentially damage the effectiveness of what is an important part of our ability to tackle serious and organised crime.

  The use of Interception as an investigative technique is governed by strict safeguards within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The commissioner has stated in successive annual reports Scottish ministers take considerable care to satisfy themselves that warrants are necessary and proportionate for the authorised purposes – preventing and detecting serious crime.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25267 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, what plans there are to introduce a convention to prevent the Special Branch carrying out covert surveillance operations against MSPs and to extend their protection and freedom in a similar way to that provided to MPs by the Wilson Doctrine.

Cathy Jamieson: There are no plans to introduce a convention of this sort.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25267 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, how many people who were placed under covert surveillance involving interception of communications on the authority of Scottish ministers, but who were not subsequently prosecuted, have made a complaint under Section 65 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: This is a matter for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25267 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 May 2006, when Scottish ministers last discussed the Wilson Doctrine with the Prime Minister.

Cathy Jamieson: I have nothing to add to my answer to question S2W-25267. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Mental Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total NHS budget was spent on (a) mental health services, (b) prescription drugs and (c) anti-depressants in each of the last five years.

Lewis Macdonald: Each NHS board receives a general allocation of funds. It is for Boards to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of their resident population, including mental health services, taking account of national and local priorities.

  The expenditure on mental health services, prescription drugs and anti-depressants as defined above as a % of total NHS budgets, over the previous five years is shown in the following table.

  

FinancialYear
Expenditure on
Mental Health Services as a
% of Total NHS Budget1
Expenditure on
Prescription Drugs as a
% of Total NHS Budget1,2
Expenditure on
Anti-Depressants as a
% of Total NHS Budget1,2


 2004-05
 9.4%
 13.0%
 1.4%


 2003-04
 10.0%
 16.6%
 1.6%


 2002-03
 10.6%
 14.9%
 1.6%


 2001-02
 10.5%
 14.2%
 1.5%


 2000-01
 9.4%
 12.9%
 1.2%



  Notes:

  1. The total NHS budget is taken as the unified revenue allocation for regional health boards and does not include special health boards or central expenditure by the health department except for the State Hospital board, which shows expenditure on mental health services and has been included within the mental health expenditure above.

  2. The board’s expenditure on prescription drugs and anti-depressants is taken to mean only those prescribed by GPs and dispensed by contracted pharmacies or dispensing doctors and does not include the expenditure on drugs dispensed within hospitals. The information for anti-depressants is provided by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under six have been diagnosed with a mental illness in each NHS board area in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) type of illness and (b) age.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding packages which specifically target parents of children under five have been allocated to the Health Education Board for Scotland for the promotion of mental health issues since 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The Health Education Board for Scotland ceased to exist in 2003, when it amalgamated with the Public Health Institute for Scotland to form NHS Health Scotland.

  Through their Early Years Programme, NHS Health Scotland has identified a need to support parents of very young children around mental health issues. This need was identified in both the evaluation of the Ready Steady Baby resource and a Toddler Parenting Survey. To begin to address this identified need NHS Health Scotland has improved the mental health content of the redeveloped Ready Steady Baby resource and included mental health issues (of both parent and child) in the development of material aimed at parents of toddlers. It is expected that both will be published by the end of this year.

  The Health Education Board for Scotland/NHS Health Scotland has not been allocated any specific funding packages from the Scottish Executive for the promotion of mental health issues to target parents of children under five since 2001. The work described above has been covered from within NHS Health Scotland’s core budget from the Health Department.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychiatric beds were available for 16 to 18-year-olds in each NHS board area in each year since 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The specific information requested is not collected centrally. However, figures for Adolescent Psychiatry (patients aged between 13 and 17 years) are given in the following table.

  Table 1. Average Staffed Beds in Adolescent Psychiatric Specialties by NHS Board

  

 NHS Board
 Financial Year Ending 31 March


 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005P


 Scotland
 48
 43
 38
 32
 35


 Dumfries and Galloway
 12
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Fife
 10
 10
 3
 -
 -


 Greater Glasgow
 10
 14
 16
 16
 16


 Lothian
 9
 12
 12
 12
 12


 Tayside
 7
 7
 7
 4
 7



  Source ISD(S)1

  PData for year ending March 2005 are provisional.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average cost has been incurred in respect of psychiatric in-patients in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald: The average cost per in-patient week in psychiatric services is given in the following table:

  General Psychiatry Services - Cost Per In-Patient Week (£)

  

 
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 NHS Argyll and Clyde
 775
 910
 987
 1,092
 1,229
 1,335


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 1,033
 1,251
 1,390
 1,481
 1,518
 1,800


 NHS Borders
 1,458
 1,444
 1,286
 1,546
 1,392
 1,296


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 981
 1,244
 1,109
 1,182
 1,203
 1,576


 NHS Fife
 850
 954
 982
 1,066
 1,188
 1,412


 NHS Forth Valley
 904
 1,045
 1,054
 1,154
 1,181
 1,313


 NHS Grampian
 959
 1,054
 1,063
 1,182
 1,330
 1,392


 NHS Greater Glasgow
 785
 768
 1,085
 1,063
 1,167
 1,297


 NHS Highland
 1,102
 1,250
 1,443
 1,680
 1,951
 1,675


 NHS Lanarkshire
 842
 887
 945
 1,017
 1,200
 1,376


 NHS Lothian
 888
 1,017
 1,202
 1,349
 1,354
 1,555


 NHS Orkney
 1,044
 1,767
 1,344
 1,743
 3,517
 2,449


 NHS Tayside
 981
 1,136
 1,253
 1,378
 1,505
 1,711


 NHS Western Isles
 1,325
 1,409
 1,350
 1,390
 1,403
 1,329


 State Hospital
 1,431
 1,683
 1,860
 2,013
 2,073
 2,511


 National Average
 917
 1,018
 1,148
 1,239
 1,338
 1,496



  Source: Scottish Health Service Costs.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staffed beds there were in psychiatric units in each NHS board area in each year since 2000.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Table 1. Average Staffed Beds in Psychiatric Specialties by NHS Board

  

 NHS Board
 Financial Year Ending 31 March


 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005P


 Scotland
 8,145
 7,745
 7,345
 7,145
 6,950
 6,558


 Argyll and Clyde
 949
 916
 882
 857
 829
 786


 Ayrshire and Arran
 433
 424
 405
 400
 394
 394


 Borders
 153
 145
 142
 129
 143
 131


 Dumfries and Galloway
 282
 180
 159
 149
 157
 172


 Fife
 589
 547
 522
 487
 477
 464


 Forth Valley
 369
 359
 359
 351
 342
 340


 Grampian
 733
 686
 659
 657
 604
 547


 Greater Glasgow
 1,440
 1,442
 1,337
 1,301
 1,257
 1,158


 Highland
 261
 258
 257
 226
 222
 216


 Lanarkshire
 832
 829
 787
 788
 791
 714


 Lothian
 1,208
 1,138
 1,131
 1,135
 1,109
 1,021


 Tayside
 853
 778
 665
 623
 585
 575


 Western Isles
 43
 43
 40
 41
 41
 42



  Source ISD(S)1.

  PData for year ending March 2005 are provisional.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out in the last two years into the link between mental health and social exclusion among the general population.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Health Survey 2003 and the 2004 National Scottish Survey of Public Attitudes to Mental Health, Mental Well-being and Mental Health Problems ( Well? What do you think? ), found that respondents’ experience of mental ill-health and their scores on a widely used standard measure of mental distress and psychological ill-health were both strongly related to a range of socioeconomic characteristics, including income, ease of managing on income and area deprivation. These add to an existing body of evidence, which is summarised in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s 2004 report entitled Mental Health and Social Exclusion .

Mental Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to establish independent advocacy services for patients with autistic spectrum disorder in mental hospitals and how such services are structured to enable advocates to gain access to patients suffering from the disorder so that those patients can make use of the new tribunals set up under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Lewis Macdonald: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on health boards and local authorities to ensure the provision of appropriate independent advocacy service for all people with mental disorder including those with autistic spectrum disorder. The Scottish Executive is monitoring the provision of advocacy services for all client groups through the current mental health delivery indicators.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business will reply to my letter of 4 April 2006 regarding my constituent, Mr H Garner of Banff.

Lewis Macdonald: A reply was issued on Thursday 11 May 2006.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to my letter of 5 April 2006 regarding Action Against Autism.

Lewis Macdonald: My reply to the member was issued on 11 May 2006, within the timescale agreed for ministerial correspondence.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is now in a position to publish a target date for the implementation of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) standards in relation to ultrasound scanning.

Lewis Macdonald: All clinical standards published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland are set to improve performance and set targets for continuous service improvement.

  There is no target date set for boards to meet the standards.

  Boards are working towards meeting the Maternity Services and Pregnancy and Newborn Screening standards both published last year by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many maternity units are achieving NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) standards on ultrasound scanning; how many units met those standards last year, and how many units which previously met the standard are no longer doing so, broken down by NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

  The clinical standards on maternity services and pregnancy and newborn screening which include ultrasound scanning have not yet been fully reviewed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. The review of maternity services standards is due to be complete during 2006. The review of pregnancy and newborn screening standards is due to be completed during 2007-08. The information requested will be available from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland shortly after their review process.

Nursing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what systems are in place to enable nurses who work with older people throughout Scotland to develop and share best practice.

Lewis Macdonald: We have appointed a nurse consultant post for older people in the care home sector, whose task is to improve the care of older people living in a care home. NHSQIS practice development unit develop best practice statements in care of older people and have a network of nurses throughout Scotland where these are shared.

Older People

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its strategy to improve the quality of health care for older people includes commitment to establishing a national resource, such as the Caledonian Virtual Practice Development College, which has pioneered evidence-based nursing care and promotes better standards of care for older people.

Lewis Macdonald: No. The Caledonian Virtual Practice Development College is a commercial enterprise and would have to bid for work on a competitive basis alongside other bidders/providers of such a service.

Police

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25514 by Cathy Jamieson on 11 May 2006, whether consideration was given to the allocations between the different local authorities within police board areas in light of population changes.

Cathy Jamieson: Population is taken into account in the new police formula. The fire formula is still under review and until new arrangements are agreed funding will continue to be allocated on the basis of establishments. Establishments were based on population, however these were last set in 2005 prior to abolition and therefore do not take account of population changes in the interim.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were parents of dependent children in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not available as it is not routinely collected by the SPS. The SPS do recognise the relevance and importance of the relationship between prisoners and children, and the SPS works extensively with partner agencies to support these family links.

Scottish Water

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has been set targets to reduce leakage rates and what reductions the Executive hopes will be achieved by the end of the first phase of the Quality and Standards III investment programme.

Rhona Brankin: In its publication The Strategic Review of Charges 2006-10: The final determination , the Water Industry Commission for Scotland reported that it may be reasonable for Scottish Water to " narrow 50% of the gap between current performance and the economic level of leakage by 2010" and it allocated funding for this purpose. Scottish Water has accepted this challenge and will be working with the Drinking Water Quality Regulator, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to deliver this requirement. The Commission intends to agree initial leakage targets (consistent with its Final Determination) with Scottish Water in the near future.